The latest clean version written
by myself is available here.
An earlier version,
neatVS.zip, is refitted for easy compiling
on some platforms by Jared Johnson.

Overview

The video game industry is a major consumer of artificial intelligence
(AI) technology. It is one of the few areas of computer science
wherein regular consumers routinely interact with cutting edge
techniques. Video game consumers are demanding AI innovation to make
games more interesting and fun.
The course introduces a broad range of AI techniques for games,
contrasting recent cutting-edge approaches with more traditional ones.
Both video games and turn-based games (i.e. board games) are covered
from a variety of perspectives. Topics range from standard techniques
such as scripting and path-finding to recent innovations like
reinforcement learning and real-time neuroevolution. Industry needs
and priorities are also addressed. The course focuses on practical
application and hands-on experience, culminating in a final project.
Thus, students will leave equipped to apply the latest approaches to
real games.

Final Project: Convert it into a simple game (with partner from first assignment)

Two exams testing comprehensive knowledge (40% of grade)

Midterm: Foundations and early algorithms

Final: Comprehensive

Late assignments lose 10% the first day late, 40% the second, and are not
accepted after that.

Cheating

All of the work that you turn in or present must be your own. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other form of academic dishonesty will be penalized. The minimum penalty for cheating will include:

An automatic zero on the assignment -- this grade may not be dropped; and

reduction of your final grade by one letter grade; and

notification of the incident to the UCF Office of Student Conduct.

Plagiarism and paraphrasing are forms of cheating. Plagiarism is the presentation of others' ideas and writings as your own. Paraphrasing is taking someone else's sentence, changing a few words, and then presenting it as your own. Both are unacceptable in this class.

Important Students may not turn in code from either of
Mat Buckland's book with the exception of Mat Buckland's NEAT,
engine code (i.e. code not specifying AI algorithms), or otherwise
specified by Dr. Stanley. Turning in book code will be
penalized as plagiarism.
If you would like to use code from the book
in an assignment, please speak to Dr. Stanley first.